Alcohol
Binge drinking is defined as drinking 8 or more alcohol drinks on one occasion.
False
Drinking 5 or more standard drinks is considered binge drinking. It is an especially dangerous way to drink alcohol as it increases the risk of alcohol poisoning.
You can still be effected from second-hand cannabis smoke even if you do not smoke cannabis yourself.
True
Being exposed to second hand cannabis smoke has many of the same health effects as smoking it directly.
Using prescription medication you found in the medicine cabinet at home is safe to use to get high with since it was prescribed by a doctor.
False
Many prescribed medications are very dangerous and should only be used by the person for whom they were prescribed.
High caffeine energy drinks may appear harmless because they are sold in stores but they can become addictive.
True
The high levels of caffeine can become very habit forming and will cause withdrawal symptoms.
E-Cigarettes do not contain nicotine.
False
E-cigarette liquid can be produced in almost any flavour, however many do contain nicotine.
When a person drinks too much and vomits, it means that the alcohol has left their system and it is okay for them to drink more.
False
Your body processes alcohol as toxic and therefore when your body has too much, you throw it up. You are in danger of alcohol poisoning.
Using cannabis products as a teenager does not affect your success in school.
False
Youth who use cannabis products are more likely to drop out of high school and in turn are less likely to attend college or university.
The first person to offer you pills to get high will likely be someone that you know.
True
The “stranger” is a myth as most teenagers say they were first offered drugs by people they trust like friends.
High caffeine energy drinks contain caffeine which increases the drinker’s heart rate.
True
Many high caffeine energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine which gives the sense of ‘energy’.
Vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
False
Vaping does eliminate the release of toxic chemicals caused by burning tobacco, however, many of the chemicals in the vaping vials may cause health effects.
Among youth, males are more likely to drink and drive than females.
True
For youth, males are significantly more likely to drink and drive.
If you are under 19 it is okay for someone over 19 to provide you with cannabis.
False
Under Bill C-45: giving or selling of cannabis to any person under the age of 19 is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
Using a friend’s medication when it hasn’t been prescribed to you is an example of drug misuse.
True
Although the medication may be familiar to you or you may have been prescribed it in the past, it is never safe to use someone else’s medication.
Increased heart rate, being jittery, sweating and sleeplessness are all symptoms of having too much caffeine.
True
Regular intake of caffeine can also cause withdrawal symptoms.
Chewing tobacco is safer to use than smoking cigarettes.
False
Chewing tobacco has over 3,000 chemicals, including 28 known to cause cancer.
If you are under the age of 19, it is okay for someone who is over 19 to buy alcohol for you.
False
In Ontario, it is a crime to purchase alcohol for anyone under the age of 19. Under the Liquor Licence Act, anyone convicted of supplying alcohol to a minor faces a fine of up to $200,000 and up to one year in jail. Incorporated licensed establishments can be fined a maximum of $500,000 for this offence. Anyone who holds parties for minors where alcohol is served may also be subject to criminal charges and civil liability.
Cannabis is addictive.
True
Research indicates that cannabis use can lead to dependency. One in six people who begin using cannabis products as a youth will become dependent.
Some medication like cough and cold remedies sold without a doctor’s prescription are safe to get high with.
False
All medication needs to be used with caution and each medication has risks associated with its use.
Combining high caffeine energy drinks (a stimulant) with alcohol (a depressant) is okay because the stimulant balances out the effect of the depressant.
False
Combining alcohol and high caffeine energy drinks leads to greater intoxication and can cause the drinker to stay awake longer thus increasing the risk of the harms associated with being impaired.
Chew has less nicotine than cigarettes.
False
Chewing tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes do.
The youth brain is more sensitive than an adult’s to the effects of alcohol.
True
New research shows alcohol affects a teenager’s developing brain differently than an adult’s. Memory, learning and impulse control can be impaired. The risk of becoming dependent on alcohol increases the younger a person is when they start drinking.
Smoking marijuana, or using any cannabis product can cause mental health issues.
True
Many factors are related to the impact of cannabis use and mental health issues. These factors include:
• How much you use;
• Age at which you started using; and
• If you have any predisposition to mental health issues, such as schizophrenia and depression.
Prescription medication is less addictive than street drugs.
False
Not all prescribed medication is addictive however, some of the pills prescribed by a doctor can quickly cause dependency and can be very risky to use, even for the person who is prescribed the medication.
In addition to caffeine, high caffeine energy drinks contain herbal stimulants that act like caffeine.
True
Manufacturers have to limit the amount of caffeine in each drink and therefore may often add herbal stimulants like kola nut or guarana.
E-cigarettes can help you stop smoking tobacco cigarettes.
True and False
Research thus far indicates that many adults who use e-cigarettes to stop smoking cigarettes actually become dependent on both. Anybody who is not a current smoker of tobacco cigarettes should not begin using e-cigarettes due to the health risks.